Cops: Parolee caught with more than $100,000 in stolen goods

Tribune staff

A man on parole for burglary had dozens of iPods and smartphones at his West Side home when police and parole officers visited there Friday because of recent neighborhood burglaries and he bragged to them he would “steal anything,” according to police.

Daniel Ramirez, 22, of the 2100 block of West Huron Street, was arrested at his home about 10 a.m. Friday, according to police. He is being held in Cook County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail after being charged with felony theft of more than $100,000 in goods and felony unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, according to jail records. Officers also arrested another man, Adam Salas, 41, after they found him at Ramirez’s home and he dropped drugs in front of them, according to a police report.

Ramirez is accused of the theft of more than $100,000 in goods, including more than 80 iPods, numerous iPads and cell phones, about 20 bicycles, and other items including laptop computers and jewelry, according to police.

Wood District Tactical officers and Illinois Department of Corrections officers visited Ramirez’s home when district officers investigating a rash of burglaries in the West Town neighborhood identified Ramirez as a “person of interest,” according to a news release. They found Ramirez at home, and he told the officers he had the run of the home, including a back bedroom, which had its door closed, according to a police report.

When they opened the bedroom door, Salas came out and dropped drugs, according to police. Salas had 30 grams of heroin and 21 grams of crack cocaine, as well as “a large quantity” of drugs and equipment used in the drug trade, according to the release.

Police found some of the stolen property in the back bedroom, along with a .40-caliber live round, according to the report.

While sitting at the kitchen table talking to the officers, Ramirez told them he would “steal anything from anywhere,” according to the report. Ramirez also claimed to have moved property from his mother’s home in Des Plaines about a month ago, according to the report.

After Ramirez was arrested, the home’s owner told police they could search the property, and they found more property inside two vehicles in the garage, according to the report.

In addition to the electronics, jewelry and bikes, police also found numerous cameras, a few wide-screen televisions, gas grills, golf clubs and numerous other items.

Ramirez was ordered held in Cook County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail on Saturday, according to jail records.

Police were scheduled to allow possible victims of burglaries to view the stolen items at the Wood Dstirct, 937 N. Wood St., from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. Police asked that anyone wishing to claim their goods bring proof of ownership, such as receipts.

Police spokeswoman Melissa Stratton is hopeful that the rightful owners will be reunited with their valuables.

"We’ve invited the public in Monday and Tuesday to view the property and reclaim it," Stratton said.